Machine for positioning and cutting fish



Nov. 17, 1925- 1,562,289

w. F. BUTLER" v mcnms FQR POSITIONING AND crmxue Fxsn Filed Dec. 50, 1920 e Sheets-Sheet 1 iwwiwm. Q

ATTORNEY 1 ,562,289 w. F. BUTLER MACHINE FOR POSITIONING AND CUTTING FISH Nov. 17,1925- F'iled Dec. '30, 1920 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR WmEBuflen ATTORNEY Nov. 17, 1925. 1,562,289

v w. F. BUTLER MACHINE FOR POSITIONING AND CUTTING FISH I 7 Filed Dec. 30, 1920 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR mEBu-izer ATITORNEY Nov. 17, 1925- w. F. BUTLER momma FOR POSITIONING AND CUTTING FISH Filed Dc. so, 1920 e Sheets-Sheet v N lNVENfOR E e /0 WELBuZZn ATTORNEY NOV. W. F'. BUTLER MACHINE FOR POSITIONING AND CUTTING FISH Filed Dec. 30, 1920 e Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y- W. F. BUTLER MACHINE FOR POSITIONING AND CUTTING FISH Nov. 7, 1925. 1.562.289

Filed Dec. 30, 1920 6 Sheets-Sheet a Ii; .12. I

INVEMTOR.

A rromvs'y Patented Nov. 17, 1925.

UNITED STATES p v 1,562,289 PATENT OFF-ICE;

WILLIAM F. BUTLER. or HILLSIDE. NEW JERSEY. assrenon 'ro mvrnnrczin can coM- PANY, on NEW YonK; N. Y.. A CORPORATION or NEW JERSEY.

MACHINE FOR POSITIONING AND CUTTING FISH.

Application filed December 3 To all whom it nm con/cam:

Be it known that I, \VILmAM F. Burma, tl-CllIlZOll of the United States, residing at Hillside, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Machine for Positioning and CuttingFish, of which the following is a specification.

The invention re lates to an improved apparatus for positioning fish for the purpose of cutting oil'. their heads. or for the uniform arrangement of them for packing,-or for the perforn'iance of other useful operations which it may be desired to perform. .The

lish as ordinarily received or deposited in' bulk are in a mass in which the fish are mixed and lie in all conceivable positions' consists in the parts and combinationsithereof hereinafter set for h and claimed. with the understanding that the several necessary elements constituting'the same may be varied in proportions and arrangement without departing from the nature and scope of the invention.

" the improvements, in their-useful applications. to the particular constructions which,

In order to make the invention more clear-' ly understood there are shown in-the accompanyin'g drawings means for carrying the same into practical efl'ect, without l1m1t1ng embodying the invention, looking toward; the

delivery end of the machine. 1

Fig. 2 is a perspective, view showing the decapitating knife and contiguous parts near the delivery end of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of saidpart of the machine, showing a fish arranged for decapitatidli. i

0, 1320. Serial No. 434,084. I

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing a smaller.-

gauging device'substituted in the machine tor operation upon fish of smaller size.

Fig. 5 isa substantiallyvertical transverse section of the lower part of the drum on line VV of Fig.6. v v

Fig. 6 is aplan view of a portion of the lower or delivery end of the drum.

Fig. 7 is a plan view 'ofthe lower portion of the fish positioning chute which leads to the interior of'the drum for the delivery of the fish head first'to the latter.

Fig. 8 is an. end View of the lower end of said chute.

. Fig. 9 is a'longitudinal sectional view of the same on line IX -IX,of Fig. 7. t

Fig. 10 is'a longitudinal central sectional view including the drum and a portion of the positioning-slide or chute.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view looking toward the receiving end of the drum and showing a portion of said slide.

Fig. 12 is a diagram in plan view toillustrate the delivery of the heads and bodies of the fish into their respective chutes.

Referring tothe drawings 4 is anyelevating conveyor actuated by suitable means presently to be described, and-of any preferred form,- and which may receive the fish which have been dumped into a hopper 2. Preferably such fish have been more or loss graded according to size. if necessary.

, As the fish fall from the conveyor 4 theyfall in positions parallel with each other and transverse to the line of advance; some with their heads pointing to the right and others with their heads pointing oppositely 'a's mayjhappen, on the surface of a forwardly and downwardly inclined slide 10. This slide" has such suitable inclination as will cause the fish to slide downwardly and forwardly ihto a constantly revolving drum 1191 The friction of-the fish on the top sur-' face of the positioning slide 10 causes them all'to tum'with theirheads downward and forward. so each fish enters the drum '11 head first. This turning of the 'fish'may'be said to be due either to the retarding of their' tails-or the greater weight of the head, portions or; to the resistance of 'the -fins' and scales against allowing the to slide tail first. but perhaps more or less to all of these causes. 7

It will be understood that water may be suppliedto jthezslide 10 for the'purpose of keeping it and the fish slippery, but this may not be anessential part of the apparatus and is to be employed or not as may be advisable. The slide 10 may be provided I crooked or irregular configuration its sideboards 12 constituting means for-deflecting the fish laterally. The purpose of this construction of the slide is to retard the movement of the fish in their progress toward.

the drum and to promote and give time for their turning as desired, and'tends to prevent them from rushing into 'the drum and in the event thatthey become bunched this construction has the tendency to separate them and cause them to slide" down in such "arrangement that each fish will enter the V frame and the lower ends by the drum supchannels of the drum ll without any ob-J struction from any of the other fish passing into said channels. The extreme lower end of thlsshde is provided witha transverse I a l slot or opening 71 which constltutes an out-- let for tl1e".\\'ater which would otherwise enter into the flutes of the drum 11 (Figs; 7 and The water may also he deflected by an apron 10. The upper ends of the bars 70 may be supported by the elevator -porting frame (Fig. 11). and provision is made for adjusting the inclination of the slideby a slotted bracket7 5 which carries the lower end of the slide and-is adjustably mounted on the bars 70 by bolts 76 which pass through the slots of the bracket,

14 is a frame having an inclined top. carrying standards 14 which incline toward the axis of the drumand on which are fixed I channels are pre 7 inclined in the direction of rotation of the 'bearingslt') in whicl-f is iournaled a downwardly and forwardly-inclined shaft 16, on

"which the drum 11 is mounted-in its inclined position.

The drum is shown as formed with fish-guiding means, such for instancea's a cylindrical corrugated or channeled wall 18 of wire mesh or other suitable material attached to external: rings 20 and 21. InjFigs 5 andll the drum-is shown as comprising an external sheet metal shell 77 The fish: sup ortingelements 78 of the i erablynot radial but are drum, as seen in Fig. 5. Each of the channels on the drum wall 18 is of sufficient size.

to receive one or more fish as they leave the slide- 10. It .will he. understood that the fish should slide tail-first to or into the netchannels pass successively acrossthe paths than the average.

of the fish as they leave the slide and the number of fish received-in each channel may be varied according to different conditions,

sfi'ch as the size of the fish and the frequency,

with which they are 'fed from'the elevating conveyor as compared wlth the speedof rotation of the drum; it being desirable not to have more fish in any channel than the same is wide enough to conveniently hold, which result can be attained by suitably regulating the speeds of the said. parts. The fish quickly arrive at the lower end of the dritm and they are stopped uniformly by a removable gauge 47 attached to and turning with the drum or fish carrier '(Figs. 3, 4 and 6). \Vhen so stopped their heads project a'little beyond the lower end of the drum and the real" lineoftheir gills is substantially in line with a rotary cutter or knife 25, against the edge of which the tish are successively carried by the rotation of the drum, so that their headswill all be cut. cit at the desiredplane. Vhile' the fish are this at the lower end of the drum and apln'oaching the cutter they are confined by a plate/'27 which is at.- tached to fixed frame elements 51, 80 (Fig. 1) and extends up to or near the top of the drum, said plate 27 being provided with a space 28 in which the cutter a5 works. An

advantage of this arrangement is that when;

may not be bent by the friction of their noses against "a fixed. gauge, which would result in their being improperly cut or mutilated. When such gauges 47 are used I may have several of them of different lengths, adapted to be substitutedone for anotherand attached to the drum for different prevailingsizes of fish. The gauge of proper size will the fish-are small and pliable their bodies ing sockets 48 to receive and firmly. center the nose of the fish, as best illustrated in Fig. 6, these sockets being preferably cast on the gauge. Also the confining plate 27* may have an upturned rear edge 49 (Figs.

' 2 and 3-) to direct the'fish beneath it and prevent chance of arresting a fish larger.

These figures also illustrate means for a1-'-' resting any fish before it getsin line with the knife, in case the fishhas .by accident entered the drum tail first, such means consisting as aforesaid of a wire netting of which the channels of the drum, or thev lower ends of the same, are formed. A fish sliding head first will freely pass over this netting into proper position to be decapitated, as shown in Figs, 3, 4 and 6.,f If a ting corrugations its tail or body fins will catch in the interstices of'the wire (Fig. 6) before getting in line with the knife, and it will be carried up and delivered in an unniutilated condition, andinay be again fed to the slide and drum.

'lhe-druni is typical of any ei'iuivalent iiiclined and movable surface having means for holding the fish aliiied side by side, parallel with each other, with their heads in the same direction, andsuch a surface or carrier may be of various forms and arrangements without departing from the invention.

The OlOVHtOl' 4 has or may have its flights of such width and length that each will pack up and carry one fish, and the moving corrugated surface may be correspondingly timed so that one fish will occupy each corrugation against the gauge 47.

Fixed to the shaft 6 is a spider 52 from to facilitate the cleaning of; the machine.

Should any fish fail to reach the gauge 47 at the lower end of the drum and consequently fail to becarried beneath thepliite 27 to the decripitating knife 25 they will fall bygravity into the spaces between the rerolving partition plates 53 and from thence, by reason of the inclination of the drum, on

to a trough 7- fixedly carried at the lower end of the drum 14 in a position to receive said fish, and flOll'l said trough the fish may be removed and returned to the hopper 2 so as to again enter the machine.

An advantage of constructing the drum which radiate a. plurality of partition plates 53 which serve to reinforce the drum 11 and support it on the shaft 16. (Figs. 1 and 10). Means for rotating the drum consist of a powershaft 54 journaled in the frame 14. On

this shaft are fixed and idler pulleys 55and 56 which may be belt driven from any suitable source such as a line shaft (not shown).

.-Carried by an extension 7 9 of the standard frame 14' at therec'eiving end of the drum is a transverse countershaft 57 to which power is supplied from the-shaft 54 by sprocket wheels 58. and sprocket chain 59.

A bevel pinion 60-on the counter shaft 57 meshes with and rotates a bevel gear 61 fast on the shaft 16 on which the drum is mounted. .By means of sprocket .wheels 62 and chain 63 power is supplied to the elevating conveyor 4. Means for rotating the decapitating knife are afforded by a shaft 64 to which power is supplied from the shaft 54 through sprocket wheels 65 and chain 66 enclosed in a protective casing .67. 'A bevel pinion 68'on the end 'of 's'haftitii drives a bevel wheel ona'sti'ib shaft and this power is transmitted to the shat25,on*which the knife is mounted, by means Iof' sprocket wheels and a chain which are enclosed in a protective housing 69. s I

Afterfthe fish have been decapitated both the bodies and severed heads are carriedby the revolving drum around beneath and then overv the guide plate 27 to points substantially at thetop of said drum where said guide plate is partially out away at 71 (Fig. 12) to allow said fish heads to drop- I into a trough 72 from which they are conve ved to any suitable receptacle. .At a

point beyond the trough 72 the guide plate 27 terminates at 72 and the fish bodies are allowed to fallby gravity into a second inclined trough 73 from which said bodies may be conveyed to any desired point. The

troughs or chutes 72 and 73 may be ofwire' mesh to allow any water to drain away, and

.tion to prevent the, fish thiis with the shell 77 is that any water may be .collected by it and delivered at its lower end to be conducted away in a convenient inanner. Whether 'ornot said shell is employed water will drain through the wire mesh channels and preventany water from runing or accumulatingtherein.

What is claimed 1s--- 1. In a machine for positioning fish,.the combination with a delivery chute Of "8,

rotary drum cooperating therewith having" a reticulated portion provided with a. plurality of channels adapted to receive the fish delivered thereto from said chute.

2. In a machine for positioning and cutti ng fish the combination of a delivery chute,

a rotary drum cooperating therewith, and a cutting mechanism associated" with said drum, said chute being provided with means for deflecting fish laterally to aid them in foremost, and said ,-drum being provided with a plurality of reticulated channels adapted to successively receive the fish delivered thereto from said chnte-andto. retard the passage of' fish whichmin be ade livered to the drum iniata foremost posi- I bottom of the delivery portion; being coni distribute P itioned from f o. fishinay lower de- I ormation' cave to center the positioned fish on a lineof delivery. T

5. In amachine for positioning fish, in

combination: an inclined positioning slide,

* a rotary drum having an interiorinclined surface provided with fish -guldin means,

y on said be delivmeans for deflectin the fish lateral slide to aid tliem 1n turning and turning for. delivery to said drum head 'ered head foremost to said drum, means for alining said fish-While in said drum, cutting means within said drum and means for turning the drum and carrying the alined fish within said drum to the cuttingmeans.- 6. In a machine for positioning llSli, in' -co1nbination: an inclined positioning slide,

a rotary drum having an' interior inclined. surface provided with fislrguiding means, said slide .having a sinuous course for deflecting the fish laterally .on"said slide-to aid them in turning and be delivered head foremost to said drum, means for alining said fish while 111 said drum, cutting means cooperating with said drum, and means for turning the drum and carrying the alined fish within-said drum to the cutting means.

be delivered head foremost to said drum,

7. In a machine for positioning fish, n

combination: an inclined positioning Slide,

a rotary dru having an interior inclined surface provi ed with fish-guiding means, sinuous means for deflecting the fish laterally on said slide to aid them in turning and Jl'lGil-IIS for adjusting the lower'end of the slide relative to'the drum, means for alinlng said fish while in said drum, cutting Lmeans within said drum, and. means for .turning the drum and carrying the alined fi'sh within said drum to the cutting means.-- 8. In a .machine'for-positioning, fish, in combination; reticulated conveying means for carrying the. fish laterally, a cutter to which the fish are so carried, means moving with the conveyor for alinmgthe fish, and

:means for-centering and confining the heads of the fish during decapitation.

9; In a machine for cutting fish,'the com bination of cutting means and an inclined rotary drumcomprising a shell having on its interior wire mesh extending inwardly and outwardly and forming fish guidingchannels.

combination an" inclined fish-positioning slide, a rotary drum having an lnterior in-' channels,

clined surface provided with fish-guiding means, and means carried by. said slide to prevent the entry of water from said slide to said drum.

12. In a machine forpositioning fish, in

combination: an inclined slide, a rotary,

drum having an interior inclined surface provided with fish-guiding means to which the fish are delivered head foremost from said slide, a gauge for alining said fish while in said drum, and cutting means to decapitate said fish, said drum .having means to prevent the passage of Water to said gauge plate. j

13. In a machine for positioning fish, in combination: an inclined slide, a rotary drum having an interior inclined surface provided with fish-guiding means, means for deflecting the fish laterally on said chute to aid them in turning andbe delivered head foremost to said drum, means for alining said fish while in said drum, said means includ- "ing a gauge plate of zig-Zag configuration to rigidly hold the heads of said fish, cutting means within'the drum to decapitate said fish, and means within said drum to prevent the'passage of water to said gauge plate.

14. In a machine for positioning fish; in

combination; an inclined fish-positioning slide, a rotary drum having an interior in clined surface provided with fish-guiding means to which the fish are delivered head foremost from said 'slide, a wire mesh within said ,sdrum to arrest any fish delivered tail foremost from said slide, and means for collecting and delivering outside of .the drum such arrested and uncut fish.

15. In a machine for positioning fish, in combination: an inclined fish-positioning slide," a' rotary drum having an interior inclined surface provided with fish-guiding means, means for deflecting the fish laterally on said slide to aid them in turning and be delivered head foremost to said drum) means for alini-ng said fishwithin said drum, cut ting means, said drum having means to arrest any fish delivered tail foremost from said slide, and means for collecting such uncut fish' and conducting them putside of the-drum. p y i In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WILLIAM F. BUTLER. 

